Game-counter



(No Model.) I

P. J. HALL.

GAME COUNTER.

Patented Apr. 1,1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED J. HALI OF IVALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT.

GAME-COUNTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,551, dated April 1, 1890.

Application filed May 29, 1889.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED J. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vallingford, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in GameCounters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, ref erence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, an elevation of one of the many forms which my invention may assume. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same device, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the pointers detached.

The prime object of this'invention is to provide a cheap and convenient register or memorandum for keeping a register of games and for many other purposes to which a device of this character may be applied, and to which reference will be more fully herein after made. v

In Fig. 1, A is a base or body piece, which may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, wood, or pasteboard, the latter being preferred on account of its cheapness and the ease with which it can be printed upon. Holes or perforations are made in the base or body piece, as .at b b, and eyelets a a are passed through the holesb Z) and secured in the ordinary manner. A staple B is secured in place by the ends being forced through the eyelets a a and riveted in a manner too well understood to require further explanation. It will also be seen that a variety of ways may be employed for securing the staple or rod to the base or body piece without departing from the spirit of myinvention. Itherefore desire the liberty of securing them in any approved manner.

1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are the pointers, which are mounted upon the staple or rod 13 and retained in position by means of elastic or yielding jaws. The pointers may be formed of any suitable material; but wire is pre- Serial No. 312,486. (No model.)

ferred on account of its elasticity and cheapness.

In the construction of the pointers I prefer a half-round wire, which is first cut into proper lengths, then formed into loops, the flat side inward. The free ends of the loops are then formed into semicircular jaws, as shown in Fig. 3. The opening between the jaws of the pointers is of less diameter than the rod or staple B, and it is therefore obvious that when the pointers are placed upon the rod or staple, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the jaws will clasp the rod, and the pointers will be retained in any desired position.

A list or column of numbers, names, or characters is arranged upon the body or base of the device and upon either or both sides of the stapleB and substantially parallel with said rod or staple.

To operate the device a pointer is moved along the rod B until opposite the number desired, and then rotated upon the said rod until the said pointer rests upon the desired number. This may be repeated until all of the pointers are in use.

In the drawings lists of numbers are shown; but it will be readily understood that lists of names of articles may be substituted and the pointers used to indicate the different articles. I

A base or body provided with several staples or rods each bearing a series of pointers may be constructed without departing from my invention, and in a game-counter but one pointer is necessary. I therefore would not restrict myself to any particular construction; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a game-counter, the combination, with a base of substantially rectangular shape and formed of any suitable material, of a barstaple the ends of which are secured to the face of said base, the bar of said staple ex tending centrally and longitudinally of and parallel with and offsetting from the face of said base, a list or column of numbers, names, or characters located upon the face of said base and upon one or both sides of said staple, and a series of pointers mounted upon In testimony whereof I affix my signature said staple, each composed of a single piece in presence of two witnesses. of Wire and comprising a loop the free ends of Which are formed in semicircular jaws FRED HALL- adapted to clasp the staple and be retained Witnesses:

thereby in any desired position, substantially H. A. HALL,

as and for the purpose set forth. S. L. HALL. 

